Making sure you know
where to turn
We’re here to support you throughout your tenancy - with help for money worries, mental health, domestic abuse, and employment.
Money support
We want you to know that if you’re worried about money, you’re not alone, and we’re here to help.
We’re really proud to share that this year we’ve helped secure over £307,000 in grants for our customers. These grants have helped purchase essentials, such as cookers and washing machines, as well as home clearances and energy and heating vouchers.
Over the past year, we’ve been working hard to make sure you know about the support available – from helping you with applying for benefits and managing debt, to accessing grants, discount schemes, and finding work.
In 2024-25, we:
- Secured £180,000 in Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) payments for our customers.
- Referred 617 customers for specialist financial help.
- Helped 330 households access fuel and energy-saving advice.
- Supported customers with applications for fuel and food bank vouchers. Read more about the ways we supported our new customers.
Adaptations
We have 9,464 specially adapted homes and work with councils and specialist agencies to make sure they go to those who need them most.
In 2024/25, we let 283 adapted homes and 371 accessible homes. We also carried out 795 minor adaptations (like grab rails and ramps) and supported 23 major ones (such as stairlifts and wet rooms). We help customers apply for Disabled Facilities Grants and work closely with them, their occupational therapist, and the local council to get the right support in place.
Reaching out to you
We know some customers may not reach out when they’re struggling, so we used our data to check in on those we haven’t heard from in over a year. In 2024-25, we contacted 569 ‘silent customers’ and were able to offer support to 214 households.
We also piloted an advocacy service with Pohwer, supporting 13 customers with mental health needs, long-term illnesses, or disabilities with a total of 173 hours of help. We continue to offer advocacy where needed and are working with Longleigh to make this support available long term.
"I couldn't be any more grateful"
James, Stonewater customer
Domestic abuse
Our Domestic Abuse Services offer safe, inclusive support for all survivors through specialist refuges and community services across the country. We provide trauma-informed, person-centred help for women, men, children, LGBTQ+ people, minoritised communities, and those with complex needs - supporting recovery and independence.
In 2024-25, we continued working towards the SafeLives Leading Lights accreditation, (which we’ve since proudly achieved). This award recognises our commitment to delivering high-quality, survivor-led domestic abuse support.
“Tracey was nothing but spectacular, so helpful and understanding about life's difficulties. She made every step of the way easy, and I can’t thank her and Stonewater enough for giving me some security for me and my children. She is an absolute diamond! Honestly, thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
Alice, Stonewater customer
“During a recent home visit, a customer shared with us that he had no access to a phone, which made it difficult for him to contact anyone for help.
We noticed that his home was nearly empty, and the customer also shared that he had recently experienced a bereavement. We spoke to him about the support we have available, including a digital grant, which provided the customer with a phone with unlimited calls, texts, and internet for six months.
We also referred him to services where he could get support for financial advice, mental health, and help with essential household items like a cooker and washing machine.
Another customer bravely reached out to us over the phone to ask for help. Through open, non-judgmental conversations, she shared that she was struggling with maintaining her home.
We were able to support her with a referral for talking therapy and a grant-funded clean and clear service to help make her home feel welcoming and manageable again. The customer is now engaging in therapy, feeling more positive and growing in confidence to reach out for support when needed.
It's been so encouraging to see both customers get the support they needed and knowing that we're here when they need someone to talk to."
Catherine Preece, Performance and Delivery Manager - Tenancy
Employability
In 2024–25, we supported customers to build confidence, gain new skills, and find work opportunities that suited their lives.
Through partnerships with organisations like Clean Slate, We Are Group, Seetec, and Blue Octopus, there’s more support available to you than ever before.
In 2024-25, we:
- Worked closely with our partners and contractors to deliver targeted employability support to customers across the country. This included CV writing, interview practice, digital skills training, help starting a business, information on roles within their teams, and tailored career advice. “Everyone loved the Google Meet function! One customer told me he’d just sent his first email on his own.” Rick, We Are Group training session attendee
- Worked with our partners to run targeted recruitment campaigns in our communities, making it easier for you to find the right job opportunities.
- Supported customers with grants and funding to overcome barriers to employment, gain qualifications and develop skills.
- Continued to share work experience and training opportunities on the customer hubb.
- Visited a secondary school in Huddersfield – attended by many young people from Stonewater households – to deliver a day of mock interviews. Working alongside local employers, colleges, and university representatives, over 200 students had the chance to experience a realistic job interview and receive valuable feedback. We will revisit the school to host a job fair later this year!
“All the sessions were good and boosted my confidence. Before, I didn’t have any confidence in interviews. When I went to the job interview, I thought I’m talking to Becci, my Quids In! Coach, and I wasn’t scared.”
Alex*, Stonewater customer
Alex* had been unemployed for over a year. They faced financial barriers, lacked confidence, and didn’t know where to begin. We connected them with Clean Slate, who delivered their Quids In! 7 Signs programme. Over just a few weeks, Alex identified their skills and passions, built a new CV, practised interview techniques, and received guidance tailored to their needs. With growing confidence and a polished job application, Alex secured a role - and increased their annual income by nearly £18,000. A grant also helped cover travel and clothing costs for their first month at work.
Another customer, Rosa*, came to us unsure of their next steps. We helped her retrain in a completely new field, supporting her with funding, as this was a huge barrier for her.
Rosa told us:
"The support I received from Stonewater really changed my life. I thought I was not going to be able to work, nor be able to live a normal life. I almost gave up, but Stonewater did a lot."
*Names changed for privacy
We also delivered two employability workshops at Swindon Foyer, run in partnership with Young Enterprise.
10 young customers took part over two days, covering topics like personality types, job hunting, CVs, cover letters, personal statements, and interview practice.
One of the guest speakers, Charlotte from Seetec, was a former Swindon Foyer resident who shared her inspiring journey from supported housing to owning her own home.
All residents who attended were entered into a prize draw to win a Chromebook, donated by We Are Group.
“I’ve been able to gain additional certifications, which I would not have been able to afford at this time to enhance my job applications. I now have the equipment I need to work on my design portfolio and other projects which will improve the quality of my job applications”
Anon, Stonewater customer
Facebook Live
We held a Facebook Live and Direct session with our employability colleagues, as well as colleagues from Cleanslate, all about accessing support into employment.